Abstract

The location of the opening of the zygomaticotemporal branch (ZTb) of the zygomatic nerve inside the orbit (ZTFIN) has significant surgical implications. This study was conducted to locate the ZTFIN and investigate the variations of the ZTb inside the orbit. A total of 20 sides from 10 fresh frozen cadaveric Caucasian heads were used in this study. The vertical distance between the inferior margin of the orbit and ZTFIN (V-ZTFIN), the horizontal distance between the lateral margin of the orbit and ZTFIN (H-ZTFIN), and the diameter of the ZTFIN (D-ZTFIN) were measured. The patterns of the ZTb inside the orbit were classified into five different groups: both ZTb and LN innervating the lacrimal gland independently (Group A), both ZTb and LN innervating the lacrimal gland with a communicating branch (Group B), ZTb joining the LN without a branch to the lacrimal gland (Group C), the ZTb going outside the orbit through ZTFIN without a branch to the lacrimal gland nor LN (Group D), and absence of the ZTb (Group E). The D-ZTFIN V-ZTFIN H-ZTFIN ranged from 0.2 to 1.1 mm, 6.6 to 21.5 mm, 2.0 to 11.3 mm, respectively. The number of sides in Groups A, B, C, D, and E were 13 sides (65%), three sides (15%), none (0%), two sides (10%), and two sides (10%), respectively. Such anatomical knowledge might reduce complications following surgery in and around the ZTb.

Ethics Statement and Conflict of Interest Disclosures

Human subjects: Consent was obtained by all participants in this study. This study involves cadaveric human specimens. . Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Acknowledgements

The author thanks those who donated their bodies for anatomical research.

License

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Original article

peer-reviewed

Anatomical Study of the Zygomaticotemporal Branch Inside the Orbit

Figures etc.

Figure
1:
Measurement of the horizontal and vertical distances of the ZTFIN. Note the lateral and inferior margin of the orbit is colored in red (left orbit).

N; nasal cavity, IOF; infraorbital foramen, ZTFIN; the opening of the ZTb inside the orbit, H-ZTFIN; horizontal distance between the lateral margin of the orbit and ZTFIN, V-ZTFIN; the vertical distance between the inferior margin of the orbit and ZTFIN.

Table
1: Diameter and distance of ZTFIN

ZTFIN;the opening of the ZTb inside the orbit, D-ZTFIN; diameter of the ZTFIN, H-ZTFIN; horizontal distance between the lateral margin of the orbit and ZTFIN, V-ZTFIN; vertical distance between the inferior margin of the orbit and ZTFIN

Group A; both ZTb and LN innervating the lacrimal gland independently, Group B; both ZTb and LN innervating the lacrimal gland with a communicating branch, Group C; ZTb joining the LN without a branch to the lacrimal gland, Group D; the ZTb going outside the orbit through the ZTFIN without a branch to the lacrimal gland or LN, Group E; absence of the ZTb

Author Information

Joe Iwanaga

Koichi Watanabe

Rod J. Oskouian

Neurosurgery, Swedish Neuroscience Institute

R. Shane Tubbs

Neurosurgery, Seattle Science Foundation

Ethics Statement and Conflict of Interest Disclosures

Human subjects: Consent was obtained by all participants in this study. This study involves cadaveric human specimens. . Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Acknowledgements

The author thanks those who donated their bodies for anatomical research.

License

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Categories

Keywords

Figure
1:
Measurement of the horizontal and vertical distances of the ZTFIN. Note the lateral and inferior margin of the orbit is colored in red (left orbit).

N; nasal cavity, IOF; infraorbital foramen, ZTFIN; the opening of the ZTb inside the orbit, H-ZTFIN; horizontal distance between the lateral margin of the orbit and ZTFIN, V-ZTFIN; the vertical distance between the inferior margin of the orbit and ZTFIN.

Table
1: Diameter and distance of ZTFIN

ZTFIN;the opening of the ZTb inside the orbit, D-ZTFIN; diameter of the ZTFIN, H-ZTFIN; horizontal distance between the lateral margin of the orbit and ZTFIN, V-ZTFIN; vertical distance between the inferior margin of the orbit and ZTFIN

Group A; both ZTb and LN innervating the lacrimal gland independently, Group B; both ZTb and LN innervating the lacrimal gland with a communicating branch, Group C; ZTb joining the LN without a branch to the lacrimal gland, Group D; the ZTb going outside the orbit through the ZTFIN without a branch to the lacrimal gland or LN, Group E; absence of the ZTb

The location of the opening of the zygomaticotemporal branch (ZTb) of the zygomatic nerve inside the orbit (ZTFIN) has significant surgical implications. This study was conducted to locate the ZTFIN and investigate the variations of the ZTb inside the orbit. A total of 20 sides from 10 fresh frozen cadaveric Caucasian heads were used in this study. The vertical distance between the inferior margin of the orbit and ZTFIN (V-ZTFIN), the horizontal distance between the lateral margin of the orbit and ZTFIN (H-ZTFIN), and the diameter of the ZTFIN (D-ZTFIN) were measured. The patterns of the ZTb inside the orbit were classified into five different groups: both ZTb and LN innervating the lacrimal gland independently (Group A), both ZTb and LN innervating the lacrimal gland with a communicating branch (Group B), ZTb joining the LN without a branch to the lacrimal gland (Group C), the ZTb going outside the orbit through ZTFIN without a branch to the lacrimal gland nor LN (Group D), and absence of the ZTb (Group E). The D-ZTFIN V-ZTFIN H-ZTFIN ranged from 0.2 to 1.1 mm, 6.6 to 21.5 mm, 2.0 to 11.3 mm, respectively. The number of sides in Groups A, B, C, D, and E were 13 sides (65%), three sides (15%), none (0%), two sides (10%), and two sides (10%), respectively. Such anatomical knowledge might reduce complications following surgery in and around the ZTb.

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